It’s never too late to start learning

Bury libraries are giving people another chance to brush up on their computer skills during national Get Online Week from 15-21 October.

Staff and volunteers are there to help people discover the Internet and email which opens the doors to a new wide world.

One person who has been able to improve her life since learning new skills is Doreen Richards of Radcliffe. She said: “I wanted to find out how to use the Internet to look for recipes and help with researching family history. When I saw an article in the local newspaper about the Get You Started sessions withBury LibraryService I booked myself a place. The first session covered the basics of using a computer then I went on to do the five-hour UK Online sessions showing me how to use the internet and email and we also looked at Ancestry and FindMyPast, two of the many free online resource services available throughBury LibraryService.”

Michael O’Callaghan, assistant librarian (learning support), manages the computer centre atBury Library. He said: “Doreen has really improved and shown a keenness to learn. The one-to-one sessions are particularly beneficial for people of a certain age as it helps them gain confidence to use a computer without any pressure. They are also able to learn at their own pace and, if they want to progress, we can advise them how to do this.”

Doreen added: “I felt very comfortable having one-to-one sessions with Michael who put me at ease and he was a great help and very patient in helping me to learn to use a computer even at my age.”

Get Online Week events will take place as follows:

•  Monday 15 October (10am-noon), Brandlesholme Community Centre and Library. Tel: 0161 253 5010.
•  Thursday 18 Oct (2-5.15pm),Bury Library. Tel: 0161 253 7089.
•  Thursday 18 Oct (10am-5pm), Unsworth Library. Tel: 0161 253 7560.
• Friday 19 Oct (10.30am-12.30pm),Coronation RoadCommunity Centre and Library Tel: 0161 253 5443.

Contact your nearest library to book a place. Sessions are free.

For information on all library services see www.bury.gov.uk/libraries or follow on www.facebook.com/burylibraries or http://twitter.com/burylibraries

ENDS

Press release issued: 2 October 2012.

Picture attached: Michael O'Callaghan, assistant librarian (learning support), and Doreen Richards.